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Camilla Belle has delivered some of her most memorable style moments across red carpets, galas, and film premieres. Each look tells part of her story, from elegant lace dresses to standout horror roles. Explore her evolving fashion journey below.

Jump to a Look:

1. Lo Máximo Gala: White Lace Dress & Nude Slingbacks 2. Horror Debut: When a Stranger Calls and Early Style 3. Vintage Vibes: Ralph Lauren Fringe Dress in Las Vegas 4. Floral Fantasy: Monique Lhuillier at J.Lo’s After Party 5. Holiday Chic: Tory Burch Sequins & Tamara Mellon Heels 6. Fashion Retrospective: Camilla Belle’s Red Carpet Hits Lo Máximo Gala: White Lace Dress & Nude Slingbacks

Camilla Belle returned to the red carpet for the 2025 Lo Máximo Awards and Fundraising Gala on March 29 at the Jw Marriott Los Angeles L.A. Live.

Known for her refined yet understated approach to fashion, Camilla doesn’t chase trends. When she commits to a look, it resonates.

Kids are kind of dumb. Remember when you and your friends thought it was funny to prank call the police, not realizing they could see the number and easily call you back? That’s mostly innocuous, but it was also a rite of passage. I’m not sure the adolescent phase of prank calling still endures or not, but since the advent of home telephones, kids and teens loved picking up the phone and pranking friends and foes alike. The entire Scream franchise is basically the most terrifying prank call in history (except it’s no joke).

The phenomenon wasn’t just limited to the 1980s and 1990s, either. Way back in 1965, William Castle directed Joan Crawford in I Saw What You Did, a cheap yet fantastic thriller about two young girls pranking random numbers, calling and saying, “I saw what you did, and I know who you are.” Unfortunately,...

The opening of 1979’s When a Stranger Calls features twenty of the most potent minutes in horror. From an unassuming heroine whose tenable performance lingers, to the attentive buildup of suspense ahead of a nightmarish climax, the movie begins on the best note possible. Replicating what feels like lightning in a bottle seemed impossible at the time, but as it happens, Fred Walton’s less familiar sequel When a Stranger Calls Back is a remarkable successor in more ways than one. Walton redefined the same story rather than repeat it. Instead of shifting the focus away from the babysitter like in the first movie, the sequel follows her trauma and never loses sight of it.

Julia (Jill Schoelen) is babysitting a couple’s two children one evening when she receives an unexpected visitor. An unknown man comes to the front door and asks to use the phone because his car has broken down nearby.

For myself and many other horror fans, the 1986 classic April Fool’s Day (watch it Here) is a must-watch every April 1st – and next year, thanks to the folks at Kino Lorber, some of us are going to be able to watch the movie on a brand new 4K Uhd disc! They’re giving the film a 4K Uhd release on January 21st, and copies are available for pre-order at This Link.

Directed by Fred Walton from a screenplay by Danilo Bach, April Fool’s Day has the following synopsis: When a group of college students decides to spend spring break at the secluded island estate of their wealthy classmate, Muffy St. John, what starts out as a fun, hedonistic weekend turns into something more sinister. Muffy is very fond of practical jokes, and sets up numerous gags throughout her mansion. But, when friends begin going missing and turn up dead,...

April Fool’s Day will be the life of the party when it hits 4K Ultra HD on January 21 from Kino Lorber.

The 1986 holiday slasher has been newly restored in 4K from the original camera negative with Dolby Vision/Hdr.

From Friday the 13th franchise producer Frank Mancuso Jr., the film is directed by Fred Walton (When a Stranger Calls) and written by Danilo Bach (Beverly Hills Cop).

Deborah Foreman, Jay Baker, Deborah Goodrich, Ken Olandt, Griffin O’Neal, Leah King Pinsent, Clayton Rohner, Amy Steel, and Thomas F. Wilson star.

Disc 1 – 4K Uhd:

4K Restoration from the Original Camera Negative Dolby Vision/Hdr Presentation of the Film Audio Commentary by Film Historians Howard S. Berger, Steve Mitchell, and Nathaniel Thompson (new) 5.1 Surround and Lossless 2.0 Audio

Disc 2 – Blu-ray:

Horror with a Twist: 2-Part Interview with Director Fred Walton Well of Lies: Interview with Actress Deborah Goodrich Royce Looking Forward to Dessert:...

The blood-thirsty hitchhiker, the escaped psycho with a hook for a hand, the babysitter and the call that is somehow unequivocally coming from inside the house; we all known them. The modern day fables that have shaped our fears and behaviours arguably more than any others. Urban legends that all seem to have sprung out of the American post-war hangover of the 1950s and ’60s, as inequality took seed and the dark side of the new white-picket-fence suburbia slowly set in off-screen. Ed Gein and Ted Bundy and the Moors Murders filled the news. Doubts about our fellow man, and about what they’re capable of. About how we very much aren’t “all in this together”; that the days of blindly trusting one another are all but over. That people, strangers in particular, are more likely to be dangerous than helpful.

And naturally, those cautionary tales bled into culture and filmmaking.

Before USA Network became series-focused, the cable channel delivered a steady stream of weekly original movies. Many of which were produced by McA (now NBCUniversal). And during this era — between the late 1980s and early 2000s — USA offered a variety of genres; action and suspense were the most common, but horror also came up from time to time.

Especially around Halloween.

USA Network is no longer in the business of airing these “World Premiere Movies,” horror or otherwise, and there haven’t been great strides to bring all of them to streaming or modern home video. However, the horror entries certainly have their merits as well as fans.

See if you can remember these original movies from USA Network’s horror history.

Trapped (1989)

Image: Kathleen Quinlan in Trapped (1989).

Directed by Fred Walton, Trapped was one of USA’s first World Premiere Movies. Here Kathleen Quinlan starred in what feels like a blueprint for P2.

Every babysitter’s nightmare becomes real in When a Stranger Calls, now streaming on our Bloody Disgusting-powered Screambox.

Carol Kane (Addams Family Values) stars in the 1979 masterclass in suspense from director Fred Walton (April Fool’s Day).

In the film, a psychopathic killer terrorizes a babysitter, then returns seven years later to menace her again.

“A young high school student babysits for a very rich family. She begins to receive strange phone calls threatening the children. When she finally realizes that it’s not a joke, she calls the police, only to find that the calls are coming from inside the house.”

Paul Le wrote about the film in his regular column, “Formative Fears”, exploring friends, family and closure in the 70s-era classic.

Watch it now on Screambox.

Start screaming now with Screambox on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Prime Video, Roku, YouTube TV, Samsung, Comcast, Cox, Philo, and Screambox.com.

Halloween season kicks off in less than a month and we’re already dropping some huge horror bombs on Screambox including the instant gory classic We Are Zombies, the undead horror drama The Funeral, and the cult thriller When a Stranger Calls.

Here’s the full breakdown…

The Hollywood dream becomes a nightmare when The Fanatic stalks Screambox on August 9. Directed by Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst, John Travolta stars in the psychological thriller as a film buff who develops an obsession with a cult movie star.

Rkss introduces the living impaired in Screambox Original We Are Zombies on August 13. Based on the comic book series “The Zombies That Ate the World”, the horror-comedy has drawn comparisons to Shaun of the Dead, Zombieland, and Warm Bodies.

A pastor seeks vengeance for his daughter’s murder in The Retaliators on Screambox August 23. It features appearances by hard rock luminaries Tommy Lee...

Screambox has revealed the new films joining the horror streaming service in August, including We Are Zombies, The Funeral, and When a Stranger Calls.

The Hollywood dream becomes a nightmare when The Fanatic stalks Screambox on August 9. Directed by Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst, the psychological thriller stars John Travolta as a film buff who develops an obsession with a cult movie star.

Rkss introduces the living impaired in Screambox Original We Are Zombies on August 13. Based on the comic book series The Zombies That Ate the World, the horror-comedy has drawn comparisons to Shaun of the Dead, Zombieland, and Warm Bodies.

A pastor seeks vengeance for his daughter’s murder in The Retaliators on Screambox August 23. It features appearances by hard rock luminaries Tommy Lee (Mötley Crüe), Jacoby Shaddix (Papa Roach), Ivan Moody & Zoltan Bathory (Five Finger Death Punch), and Spencer Charnas (Ice Nine Kills).

On August 27, Screambox Original...

The first twenty minutes of the 1979 horror film When a Stranger Calls (watch it Here) really creeped out movie-goers. It stuck in their heads, earning the movie cult classic status. The rest of the running time, viewers don’t often remember so clearly. So when Screen Gems gave the greenlight to a remake, they decided to expand those first twenty minutes to feature length, stretching out the thrills and suspense for as long as possible. It was a clever idea that was brought to the screen in an entertaining way. And if you haven’t seen the When a Stranger Calls remake, this is the best horror movie you never saw. (You can watch that one Here.)

To properly tell the story of this 2006 release, we first have to rewind thirty years. That’s when college friends Fred Walton and Steve Feke sat down to write the script for a...

The '80s gave birth to iconic slasher villains like Michael Myers, Jason Voorhees, and Chucky, leading to cult followings despite negative reviews. Films like "April Fool's Day" played with the slasher genre, mixing comedy, mystery, and horror, but disappointed audiences with its marketing. "Child's Play" introduced the killer doll Chucky, standing out with terrifying kills and a balance between horror and comedy for consistent scares.

The '80s are best known for neon colors, MTV, and some of the best slasher movies in the horror genre. As expected with any classic horror film, slashers are full of thrills and suspense but usually include more gore and a handful of characters being killed by the film's antagonists. Some of the more recognizable slasher villains from this decade include Michael Myers, Jason Voorhees, and Chucky. Many of the best slasher films starring similar antagonists have gained cult followings over the years,...

“And don’t anyone say ‘April Fool’s’ again or I’ll rip them apart!”

What is it about the first day of April that makes us want to torture our friends? History tells us that just about every culture honors a day where tricks are not only celebrated, they’re the law of the land. In the west, we recognize April Fool’s Day – an auspicious 24-hour stretch in which the rules of logic and truth no longer apply. From gimmicky corporate announcements to fake positive pregnancy tests, the first day in April is a virtual smorgasbord of deceit designed to get a laugh or incredulous grin out of unsuspecting dupes. But sometimes the tricks go too far. While commitment to the bit may be admirable, not everyone enjoys having the rug pulled out from under them and many a friendship has died on the April Fools altar. The...

By now, the outcome of 1986’s April Fool’s Day is well known: an heiress’ guests are misled to believe their party is being picked off by a killer among them. However, had the producers not requested a last-minute change, the film would have turned the tables on the elaborate prank’s orchestrator; she would have died for real. Fans had hoped to see footage from this shot-but-unused ending on Shout! Factory’s Blu-ray. No such luck, unfortunately. And it was likely not for a lack of trying on the distributor’s part, either. Although the final cut of Fred Walton’s film features no actual deaths, Jeff Rovin’s novelization was based on an earlier draft of Danilo Bach’s script. Which means this now out-of-print adaptation used that sought-after “lost” ending.

Before taking a deadly turn, the novelization is not all that different from its cinematic counterpart: Muffy St. John...

David Gordon Green's 2022 slasher film "Halloween Ends" is an unusual entry in the series in many ways. In it, the vicious masked serial killer Michael Myers (James Jude Courtney) has been living in a sewer and stays out of the film's central action for the bulk of its running time. "Ends," instead, focuses largely on a character named Corey Cunningham (Rohan Campbell), a man who, two years ago, accidentally killed the young boy he was babysitting. Green envisioned Corey's hometown town of Haddonfield, Illinois as a bitter and wounded place, full of spiteful, hurt people who cannot heal from the murderous damage that Michael caused way back in 1978, as well as his return in 2018. Every citizen is bitter, angry, and paranoid. Corey is bullied and picked on, unable to outlive his mistake. 

When Corey wanders into Michael's sewer (he was fleeing bullies), he finds Michael and a strange transference occurs.

These last few years the Criterion Channel have made October viewing much easier to prioritize, and in the spirit of their ’70s and ’80s horror series we’ve graduated to––you guessed it––”’90s Horror.” A couple of obvious classics stand with cult favorites and more unknown entities (When a Stranger Calls Back and Def By Temptation are new to me). Three more series continue the trend: “Technothrillers” does what it says on the tin, courtesy the likes of eXistenZ and Demonlover; “Art-House Horror” is precisely the kind of place to host Cure, Suspiria, Onibaba; and “Pre-Code Horror” is a black-and-white dream. Phantom of the Paradise, Unfriended, and John Brahm’s The Lodger are added elsewhere.

James Gray is the latest with an “Adventures in Moviegoing” series populated by deep cuts and straight classics. Stonewalling and restorations of Trouble Every Day and The Devil, Probably make streaming debuts, while Flesh for Frankenstein,...

Warning: Major spoilers for the following films abound.

Few experiences unite people from all walks of life like a fear of the dark. Often surpassing specific concerns of serial killers, monsters, witches, or demons, what we collectively fear most is that mysterious, dark unknown. Anything and everything could be lurking in the shadows just waiting to pounce. Bishal Dutta’s terrifying new film It Lives Inside follows an ancient evil that hides in dark corners while terrorizing its prey. The film follows a troubled teen named Tamira (Mohana Krishnan) terrorized by a flesh-eating demon known as the Pishacha that feasts on negative energy. This malevolent being soon sets its sights on her best friend Samidha (Megan Suri) and begins a campaign of terror hoping to gorge itself on chaos, destruction, and emotional pain.

One of Dutta’s most frightening scenes takes place in Samidha’s darkened bedroom. Staring at her open closet door,...

The ’70s shocked you, the ’80s gored you . . . now the ’90s come in for the kill!

The Criterion Channel has announced this year’s Halloween spectacular, which “celebrates an era that saw terror undergo unsettling new transformations.”

The team previews, “In the ’90s, horror movies got bigger budgets, became playfully self-aware, and even won some Oscars—but they’re just as nasty as what came before.

“Featuring cult heroes like John Carpenter (In the Mouth of Madness) and Abel Ferrara (The Addiction) plunging the dark depths of their uncompromising visions, established auteurs like Francis Ford Coppola (Bram Stoker’s Dracula) taking on the genre, and new voices like Ernest R. Dickerson (Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight) and Antonia Bird (Ravenous) offering fresh perspectives on familiar tropes, this selection curated by Clyde Folley offers a hair-raising tour through an oft-overlooked decade in horror that’s ripe for rediscovery.”

The full...

A new episode of our Best Horror Party Movies video series has just been released, and with this one we’re looking back at the 1986 classic April Fool’s Day (watch it Here). We may be a few days beyond the day the movie is named after, but any time is a good time to watch April Fool’s Day. And to find out how we party to this movie, check out the video embedded above!

Directed by Fred Walton from a screenplay by Danilo Bach, April Fool’s Day has the following synopsis: When a group of college students decides to spend spring break at the secluded island estate of their wealthy classmate, Muffy St. John, what starts out as a fun, hedonistic weekend turns into something more sinister. Muffy is very fond of practical jokes, and sets up numerous gags throughout her mansion. But, when friends begin going missing and turn up dead,...

Mubi has announced its lineup of streaming offerings for next month and amongst the highlights are Martine Syms’ The African Desperate, Julie Ha and Eugene Yi’s Free Chol Soo Lee, Lucile Hadzihalilovic’s Earwig, plus films from George A. Romero, Dario Argento, Kiyoshi Kurosawa, Thomas Vinterberg, Nanni Moretti, and more.

Check out the lineup below and get 30 days free here.

October 1 – Goodnight Mommy, directed by Severin Fiala, Veronika Franz | Thrills, Chills and Exquisite Horrors

October 2 – Van Gogh, directed by Maurice Pialat | I Don’t Like You Either: A Maurice Pialat Retrospective

October 3 – The Great Buster: A Celebration, directed by Peter Bogdanovich | Portrait of the Artist

October 4 – Invisible Demons, directed by Rahul Jain | Viewfinders

October 5 – Pulse, directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa | Thrills, Chills and Exquisite Horrors

October 6 – Diary of the Dead, directed by George A. Romero | George A. Romero: Double of the Dead

October 7 – Free Chol Soo Lee, directed by Eugene Yi,...

There are typically three destinations for a short horror film. Most of the time, they stay short and sweet. Another common outcome for these quick flicks is their joining others in compilation movies (also known as “frankenthologies”). As for the last and most fortunate fate, a short might be turned into something bigger.

There is a long history of horror shorts being made into full-length features. The Evil Dead, Saw, Mama, The Babadook and Lights Out are just some prime examples. And with Parker Finn‘s Smile (based on Laura Hasn’t Slept) continuing the tradition in theaters this weekend, now is a good time to check out other similar transformations.

Larry (Come Play)

In Jacob Chase’s effective short Larry, the attendant in a paid parking lot gets the scare of his life when he spots something ghastly one night. Paramount later gave Chase the opportunity to direct...

1986 was a banner year for American horror cinema. While the Reagan-era strictures placed on the MPAA would eventually weed out graphic violence in horror movies by the end of the decade, 1986 remains one of the bloodiest and most brutal years the genre has ever seen. Among the year's sterling achievements remains David Cronenberg's The Fly, which won an Oscar for Best Makeup.

Related: 10 Behind-The-Scenes Facts About The Fly

In addition to Cronenberg's visual display of onscreen carnage, 1986 saw some of the best horror filmmakers deliver exciting new movies, including James Cameron, Tobe Hooper, Stuart Gordon, Fred Dekker, Fred Walton, and many more.

Howdy, and welcome back to Let’s Scare Bryan to Death, where the call coming from inside the house is from director/screenwriter Robin Shanea Williams. Williams has that rare gift of not only being able to write a compelling narrative, but also having the directorial vision to bring that narrative to life on screen (check out her Vimeo page here). So it was with that in mind that I was particularly interested to check out a movie she loves to see that might have inspired her.

The film she nominated, Fred Walton’s When A Stranger Calls, is an intriguing pick because it’s one that gets talked about quite a bit, but in a very narrow focus. We all likely know about the basic premise, where babysitter Jill (Carol Kane) is pulling her first stint in a new household where the kids have already gone to bed. She...

We have a relatively quiet week of home media releases ahead of us this week, but the titles that are coming out are a rad bunch of films nonetheless. Scream Factory is doing the Dark Lord’s work with both the Collector’s Edition of April Fool’s Day and the HD release of Frankenstein: The True Story. If you missed it in theaters back in January, Nicolas Pesce’s The Grudge (2020) is headed to various platforms this Tuesday, and Arrow Video has put together a stellar Special Edition release of Philip Ridley’s The Passion of Darkly Noon as well.

Other Blu-ray and DVD releases for March 24th include Endless Night, Cabal, Hunter’s Moon, The Zombinator, and The Wizard: Collector’s Edition.

April Fool’s Day: Collector’s Edition

Good friends...with some time to kill. When Muffy St. John invited her college friends up to her parents' secluded...

A film I’ve talked about ad nauseam for like decades now, Fred Walton’s April Fool’s Day has been a favorite of mine ever since I discovered it on VHS during the summer of 1987.

[Spoiler warning if you haven't seen April Fool's Day.] To me, it’s always been the perfect anti-slasher, where no one in the film really dies (unless you count the film’s missing ending), and instead leans into the whodunit aspects that are driving the mystery of just who exactly is terrorizing Muffy St. John (played by Deborah Foreman) and her friends during what’s supposed to be their idyllic lakeside weekend away from the stresses of college life.

What it may lack in an official body count, April Fool’s Day more than makes up for with its whip-smart script, charismatic performances, and a whopper of an ending that I certainly wasn’t expecting at all the first time I saw it.

If you've listened to our Corpse Club member-exclusive audio commentary or you've read Heather Wixson's 30th anniversary retrospectives on the film, then you know we're big fans of Fred Walton's April Fool's Day here at Daily Dead, so we're especially excited that Scream Factory has revealed a March 24th release date and new cover art by Yannick Bouchard for their Collector's Edition Blu-ray release of the 1986 horror comedy. Scream Factory provided us with the official release details, including the list of bonus features:

Guess who’s going to be the life of the party? On March 24, 2020, Scream Factory brings the fan-favorite 1980s mystery slasher April Fool’s Day to Blu-ray™ for the first time! This Collector’s Edition release includes a number of brand-new bonus features including new interviews with director Fred Walton, actress Deborah Goodrich Royce, actor Clayton Rohner, composer Charles Bernstein, and cinematographer Charles Minsky, and more!

With Valentine’s Day only a few days away, if you’re still looking for some gift ideas to win the affection of the horror fan in your life, then perhaps this latest batch of Blu-rays and DVD releases might give you some inspiration. And speaking of amore, Scream Factory has put together a brilliant Collector’s Edition for the original My Bloody Valentine that is a must-own for genre fans, and keeping with the theme, Takashi Miike’s First Love is coming home on both Blu and DVD this Tuesday as well.

We also have other romantic genre offerings coming out this week, too, including Transylvania 6-5000, Cupid, and Peter Strickland’s In Fabric, which is about obsessive love, but love nonetheless.

Other notable Blu-ray and DVD releases for February 11th include Get Gone, Inmate Zero, Rust, Omnivores, and a retro-style Blu-ray for the original When A Stranger Calls by Fred Walton.

If you've listened to our Corpse Club member-exclusive audio commentary or you've read Heather Wixson's 30th anniversary retrospectives on the film, then you know we're big fans of Fred Walton's April Fool's Day here at Daily Dead, so we're especially excited that Scream Factory has revealed a March 24th release date and new cover art by Yannick Bouchard for their Collector's Edition Blu-ray release of the 1986 horror comedy.

Special features for the April Fool's Day Collector's Edition Blu-ray will be revealed at a later date, but in their announcement on Facebook (see below), Scream Factory mentioned that they have "several cast and crew already on board," and we'll be sure to keep Daily Dead readers updated on future announcements.

From Scream Factory: **April Fool’S Day Update**

But before we leave to celebrate Thanksgiving this week, we'll leave you with more information on another upcoming holiday! ;-) Details...

If you've listened to our Corpse Club member-exclusive audio commentary or you've read Heather Wixson's 30th anniversary retrospectives on the film, then you know we're big fans of Fred Walton's April Fool's Day here at Daily Dead, and we couldn't be more pleased that as a special Halloween treat, Scream Factory announced a Collector's Edition Blu-ray release for the 1986 horror comedy.

Special features for the April Fool's Day Collector's Edition Blu-ray have yet to be announced, but we'll keep Daily Dead readers updated as more details are revealed, and we also have the official announcement below, along with details on three other recent Blu-ray announcements: Rasputin the Mad Monk, X: The Unknown, and The House That Jack Built Director's Cut:

April Fool's Day Collector's Edition Blu-ray: "Happy Halloween everyone! It may be Oct 31st but we have April 1st on our minds today as we reveal that we...

While many modern-day viewers know Carol Kane as Lillian from Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, horror fans perhaps know her better as Jill Johnson from When a Stranger Calls and its 1993 sequel, When a Stranger Calls Back, the lattermost of which is coming to Blu-ray from Scream Factory on May 28th, and we've been provided with three copies to give away to lucky Daily Dead readers!

---------

Prize Details: (3) Winners will receive (1) Blu-ray copy of When a Stranger Calls Back.

How to Enter: We're giving Daily Dead readers multiple chances to enter and win:

1. Instagram: Following us on Instagram during the contest period will give you an automatic contest entry. Make sure to follow us at:

https://www.instagram.com/dailydead/

2. Email: For a chance to win via email, send an email to contest@dailydead.com with the subject “When a Stranger Calls Back Contest”. Be sure to include your name and mailing address.

In 1979, a “stranger” called Jill Johnson. In 1993, he called back! The iconic babysitter horror When a Stranger Calls sent shockwaves through our collective conciousness, imortalizing the query, “Have you checked the children?” In 1993, the film’s original writer/director Fred Walton reunited with stars Carol Kane and Charles Durning for a made-for-tv sequel, When […] The post When A Stranger Calls Back on Blu-ray for the First Time in North America from Scream Factory appeared first on Dread Central.

The made-for-tv terror sequel When A Stranger Calls Back is getting an all-new blu-ray release on May 28 from Scream Factory.

In When A Stranger Calls Back, The Stranger is watching you...again. Five years after her own terrifying baby-sitting ordeal, Julia Jenz is trying to put her life together when the past comes back to haunt her. Someone is breaking into her apartment, moving objects around and toying with her. The police think she's just a hysterical coed, but student advisor Jill Johnson (Carol Kane), similarly victimized thirteen years earlier, is determined to nail Julia's stalker. Retired detective John Clifford (Charles Durning), who saved Jill's life before, must find and outwit the culprit before it's too late in this riveting sequel that reunites writer/director Fred Walton with the stars of the original When a Stranger Calls.

When A Stranger Calls Back blu-ray special features:&#8226 New: 2019 2K scan of the...

While many modern-day viewers know Carol Kane as Lillian from Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, horror fans perhaps know her better as Jill Johnson from When a Stranger Calls and its 1993 sequel, When a Stranger Calls Back, which will be released on Blu-ray this May from Scream Factory, complete with a fresh "2K scan of the original film elements" and a new interview with Kane.

We have the official press release with the full list of special features below, and in case you missed it, read Scott Drebit's It Came From the Tube column on When a Stranger Calls Back.

Press Release: The Stranger is watching you … again. The chilling sequel to When A Stranger Calls, this suspenseful thriller makes its North American Blu-ray debut May 28th, 2019 from Scream Factory. Featuring a new 2k scan of the original film elements in both 1.33:1 (original TV broadcast) and an alternate 1.78:1 version, When...

As the saying goes, if you don’t learn from your boners they’ll just come back and bite you in your keister (I may be paraphrasing), and so that goes doubly for horror sequels; too often we’ve been burned with simply retreading old tires in the hopes of gaining new traction. So what a delightful surprise it was then to see Showtime’s When a Stranger Calls Back (1993), a true sequel to Fred Walton’s 1979 hit that manages to fix that film’s somewhat saggy middle and come out all the stronger for it.

Perhaps Walton himself sensed that the original could have been fine tuned; he wrote and directed the sequel for cable network Showtime, which originally aired on Sunday, April 4th. And determined as he was to do a proper follow up, he even managed to snag both Carol Kane and Charles Durning to reprise their roles,...

Join me as we take a trip down memory lane, before cell phones and instant notifications and Dm’s and everything else that makes me sound like an informational paranoid and crotchety old man. Let’s take a look at an urban legend stretched out to feature length with Fred Walton’s When a Stranger Calls (1979), a mesmerizing-then-decent-then-gripping suspense thriller.

Released by Columbia Pictures stateside in late October, When a Stranger Calls was a big hit with audiences, returning over $21 million against a $1.5 million budget. Critics were quicker to hang up, however; although nearly all praised the opening 20 minute set up, filled as it is with a promise impossible to match. That’s okay though, because I still think When a Stranger Calls is ultimately worth staying on the line for.

Babysitter Jill Johnson (Carol Kane – Addams Family Values) arrives at the Mandrakis household to look after their two children...

Fred Walton’s classic thriller When a Stranger Calls is a mini-classic of the slasher genre and sports one of the scariest opening scenes of all-time. And today we hear British label Second Sight is bringing us an all-new Limited Edition Blu-ray this December. Not only that, but this new Blu-ray edition will also sport the film’s lackluster […]

The post When A Stranger Calls Limited Edition Blu-ray Includes Short Film The Sitter appeared first on Dread Central.

Before the advent of cell phones, communication was so limited; you either had to telephone someone (on a landline no less), or god forbid, talk to them in person (brrr). Phones were also trotted out as a very effective trope for horror; the calls started coming from inside the house, pay phone booths were firing up, and prank calls led to all kinds of mayhem. That last ditty is where we’re headed today with I Saw What You Did (1988), an effective TV teen horror that is a remake of a same-named William Castle joint from ’65, this time co-headlined by a very young Shawnee Smith and Tammy Lauren.

Originally shown on May 20th as a CBS Friday Movie, I Saw was up against Mr. Belvedere on ABC and Miami Vice on NBC, but it held a unique appeal for teenage girls (or anyone else for that matter) looking for some thrills on a Friday night.

A film that has been a longtime favorite of mine ever since I discovered it on VHS as a kid decades (and decades) ago, April Fool’s Day recently celebrated its 30th anniversary. To mark the occasion, I was fortunate enough to round up several cast members, as well as director Fred Walton, to chat about the horror comedy that dared to turn the slasher subgenre on its head back in 1986.

April Fool’s Day brought together a talented crew of young actors, including Deborah Foreman, Amy Steel, Tom Wilson, Deborah Goodrich, Ken Olandt, Clayton Rohner, Leah Pinsent, Jay Baker, and Griffin O’Neal, who all gathered on Victoria Island in British Columbia to create a mystery-fueled horror comedy that’s hugely underrated and was certainly ahead of its time.

For many of the cast, the twists and turns of April Fool’s Day were part of the film’s...

Creating a slasher movie in 1986 wasn’t a monumental feat, as the horror genre had seen its fair share of cinematic killers over the years, but it was a culmination of many elements that made April Fool’s Day one of the best of its era. With a focused and experienced director at the helm, a clever script filled with laughs and unexpected thrills, and an affable ensemble of actors who were infectiously likeable and endlessly talented, April Fool’s Day is an underappreciated gem and is truly unlike any other genre film of its, or any, time.

Written by Danilo Bach and directed by Fred Walton, April Fool’s Day follows a group of college students—Kit (Amy Steel), Rob (Ken Olandt), Nikki (Deborah Goodrich), Chaz (Clayton Rohner), Arch (Tom Wilson), Harvey (Jay Baker), Skip (Griffin O’Neal), and Nan (Leah Pinsent)—who head out to their pal Muffy...

Today, the cult horror comedy April Fool’s Day celebrates its 30th anniversary. Written by Danilo Bach (Beverly Hills Cop) and directed by Fred Walton (1979’s When A Stranger Calls), the film follows a group of college students who spend spring break at their friend Muffy St. John’s family estate, unaware that the weekend will be filled with frights and unexpected surprises.

Released the same weekend as The Money Pit, April Fool’s Day became a modest success for Paramount Pictures, taking in $13 million during its three-week theatrical run and finding even more of an audience once it was released on VHS. Even though it has largely flown under the radar over the last 30 years, Walton’s slasher send-up with an Agatha Christie flair has remained a beloved cult film among genre fans and this writer in particular.

Looking back at the horror comedy, Walton discussed how his involvement...

Actress Rutanya Alda discusses her new book and her life in cinema. Rutanya Alda is a name long known to genre fans as a fine actress in quality productions. Her work in Brian De Palma’s The Fury, Fred Walton’s When A Stranger Calls, Lewis Jackson’s Christmas Evil, Damiano Damiani’s Amityville II: The Possession, William Lustig’s Vigilante,…

The post Exclusive Interview: Rutanya Alda on Amityville II, Brian De Palma and the Horrors of Mommie Dearest appeared first on Shock Till You Drop.

Special Mention: Gojira (Godzilla)

Written and directed by Ishirô Honda

Japan, 1954

Ishiro Honda’s grim, black-and-white post-Hiroshima nightmare stands the test of time. This allegory for the devastation wrought on Japan by the atomic bomb is quite simply a powerful statement about mankind’s insistence to continue to destroy everyone and everything the surrounds us. With just one shot (a single pan across the ruins of Tokyo), Honda manages to express the devastation that Godzilla represents. Since its debut, Godzilla has become a worldwide cultural icon, but very little is said about actor Takashi Shimura, who adds great depth as Dr. Yamane; his performance is stunning. Special effects director Eiji Tsuburaya originally wanted to use classic stop-motion animation to portray Godzilla, but time and budget limitations forced him to dress actors up in monster suits. Despite this minor setback, Tsuburaya’s scale sets of Tokyo are crafted with such great attention to detail,...

By Todd Garbarini

Just after the school year ended in June 1984, I went to a friend’s house on a Friday night to watch the premiere of Carlin on Campus, an HBO concert of one of my favorite comedians, the legendary George Carlin. When the concert was over, my friend switched around until he reached NBC-tv. They were airing When A Stranger Calls, a 1979 thriller starring Carol Kane, Charles Durning, and Colleen Dewhurst. I saw the film from the beginning, and the first twenty or so minutes had me utterly captivated. It presented a scenario that I found to be terrifying, and apparently so did Rex Reed, whose proclamation “some of the most terrifying sequences ever filmed” was used in the newspaper ads. I thought it was so original – until I saw Bob Clark’s frightening Black Christmas (1974) four years later and saw where the “inspiration” may have come from.

Top 100 horror movies of all time: Chicago Film Critics' choices (photo: Sigourney Weaver and Alien creature show us that life is less horrific if you don't hold grudges) See previous post: A look at the Chicago Film Critics Association's Scariest Movies Ever Made. Below is the list of the Chicago Film Critics's Top 100 Horror Movies of All Time, including their directors and key cast members. Note: this list was first published in October 2006. (See also: Fay Wray, Lee Patrick, and Mary Philbin among the "Top Ten Scream Queens.") 1. Psycho (1960) Alfred Hitchcock; with Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh, Vera Miles, John Gavin, Martin Balsam. 2. The Exorcist (1973) William Friedkin; with Ellen Burstyn, Linda Blair, Jason Miller, Max von Sydow (and the voice of Mercedes McCambridge). 3. Halloween (1978) John Carpenter; with Jamie Lee Curtis, Donald Pleasence, Tony Moran. 4. Alien (1979) Ridley Scott; with Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, John Hurt. 5. Night of the Living Dead (1968) George A. Romero; with Marilyn Eastman,...

Looking back over the year at what films moved and impressed us, it is clear that watching old films is a crucial part of making new films meaningful. Thus, the annual tradition of our end of year poll, which calls upon our writers to pick both a new and an old film: they were challenged to choose a new film they saw in 2013—in theaters or at a festival—and creatively pair it with an old film they also saw in 2013 to create a unique double feature.

All the contributors were given the option to write some text explaining their 2013 fantasy double feature. What's more, each writer was given the option to list more pairings, with or without explanation, as further imaginative film programming we'd be lucky to catch in that perfect world we know doesn't exist but can keep dreaming of every time we go to the movies.

How...

The big names in horror are frequently recognized by both the genre film community and mainstream entertainment culture. They are often showered with accolades by horror fans and film critics alike. Directors like John Carpenter, Tobe Hooper and Wes Craven have secured their place in history.

Many talented directors live in the shadows and are rarely recognized for their hard work and noteworthy contributions to the genre. To remedy that, we are shining the spotlight on five of our favorite underrated horror directors.

Christopher Smith

Christopher Smith has churned out some truly underrated contemporary classics and he himself is vastly underrated on the landscape of horror filmmakers. His films Severance and Creep are vastly different in tonality but both display an affection and understanding of the horror genre not unlike some of the great genre film directors of years past. Severance is full of witty one-liners and contrasted by a hefty dose of ultra violence.

My favorite 24-hour horror movie marathon, the Massacre takes place October 12 at the Patio Theater here in Chicago and the guest list is truly surprising. Fans can expect to meet, greet and get stuff signed by Mark Patton, the star of A Nightmare on Elm St. 2, Fred Walton, the director of April Fool's Day and the original classic When A Stranger Calls and last but hardly least, the one and only Gary Sherman, director of such classics as Dead and Buried, Raw Meat, and Vice Squad. The schedule of films looks fun as well. 11:30am - Trailer Trash (Vintage Horror Trailers & Shorts)Noon - Edison's Frankenstein (Silent with Live Organ!)12:30pm - Frankenstein Meets The Wolfman2pm - The Tomb of Ligeia3:45pm - Martin5:30pm - Dead and Buried (dir. Gary Sherman...

[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...

Last week, I embarked on a fun little assignment to pull together a batch of teaser trailers for horror sequels; the one criteria being that they all had to feature exclusive footage specifically shot and used just for that trailer. One of the greatest aspects of putting together articles like this is that after I finish them, I like to open up the discussion amongst my Facebook friends and see if we agree or if they have other suggestions I could’ve possibly gone with. While I already had my horror sequels picked out, I got a handful of terrific recommendations for teaser trailers featuring original footage for non-sequel horror movies. So, low and behold, I thought these awesome teasers warranted a separate article and man, some of these are cool as all hell! Special thanks to Jared Rivet, Jeff Nelson & Sean Keller for pointing out quite a few of these to me,...

The definition of a slasher film varies depending on who you ask, but in general, it contains several specific traits that feed into the genre’s formula. Author Vera Dika rather strictly defines the sub-genre in her book Games of Terror by only including films made between 1978 and 1984. In other words, she saw it as a movement. When someone describes Brick, they don’t define it as a noir, but instead neo-noir . In other words, it’s a modern motion picture that prominently utilizes elements of film noir, but with updated themes, content, style, visual elements or media that were absent in those from the 1940s and 1950s. So does one consider Scream a slasher film or a neo-slasher, or simply put, a modern slasher?

Some consider Thirteen Women to be the earliest slasher – released all the way back in 1932. Personally I think that is rubbish. Thirteen Women is more like Desperate Housewives on sedatives.

Throughout the month of October, Editor-in-Chief and resident Horror expert Ricky D, will be posting a list of his favorite Horror films of all time. The list will be posted in six parts. Click here to see every entry.

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Enjoy!

150: Session 9

Directed by Brad Anderson

Written by Stephen Gevedon and Brad Anderson

2001, USA

If there was ever a perfect setting for a horror movie, it would be the abandoned Danvers State Mental Hospital. Built in 1878 on an isolated site in rural Massachusetts, it was a multi-acre, self-contained psychiatric hospital rumoured to have been the birthplace of the pre-frontal lobotomy. The hospital was the setting for the 2001 horror film Session 9, where an asbestos clean-up crew discover a series of nine tapes, which have recorded a patient with multiple personalities, all of which are innocent, except for number nine. With a shoestring budget and no real special effects, Session 9...